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Yes, meditation can be very effective for pain relief. Stephen Levine who has written a number of books from the Buddhist perspective gives some insight into how it can be possible. From my own experience it comes about in meditation by observing the sensations rather than labelling them as good or bad or otherwise. As humans when we experience pain our natural inclination is to avoid it or try to get away from it. Emotional pain is a good example and we can all witness people numbing themselves out by overworking, overeating, overdrinking and so on. Numbing out means we don't have to feel our feelings of inner emptiness. What I continue to do is when I feel pain or discomfort rather than trying to get away from it is to sit and be with it. I take my awareness to that place in my body where I feel 'pain' and let my breath soften around it by breathing in and out of that place. It can also be helpful to ask yourself, "Where is the beginning of this sensation? Where does it end? What shape is it? What colour is it? If it could speak what would it tell me that I need to know?" Accepting and allowing what is brings about greater inner peace. Our attachment to 'pain' causes us great distress.